News of: Saturday, 15th of December, 2012

Front Page

A government department and four private organisations yesterday received the country's top environment awards for their eco-friendly efforts and mitigation of climate change impacts through sustainable business activities, community-based programmes and awareness campaigns.

Apart from improving its record on corruption, Bangladesh has to resolve the Grameen Bank issue in an acceptable manner and ensure that no new law hampers operation of NGOs in the country to qualify for US funds to fight poverty.

In 1988, Beijing -- the capital of China which was witnessing its first wave of reforms -- had only two private cars with the second one just brought in by a Chinese scholar from the USA. The world's most populated city was swarmed with millions of bicycle riding commuters.

Stone-throwing clashes broke out in the Egyptian city of Alexandria between Islamists and opposition protesters yesterday, on the eve of a highly charged referendum on a new constitution, witnesses and state media said.

About 65 Chinese academics, lawyers and human rights activists have signed an open letter demanding that top members of the ruling Communist Party reveal their financial assets, saying it is the most fundamental way to solve corruption.

President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner held surprise talks Thursday, as time ran short for hopes of a pre-Christmas deal to solve a fiscal crisis that could cause a recession.

Editorial

We are somewhat taken aback at the International Crimes Tribunal's decision to direct Bangladeshi media, both print and electronic to refrain from covering the controversy of the “Skype” conversation between a judge and a lawyer. The feeble excuse that accompanies the directive that it will adversely affect justice is amusing, especially in light of the fact that the piece of news was published in full on the internet over a week ago and which has been distributed over innumerable websites and blogs online, cannot be contained through the gag order.

Trouble has been brewing for President Morsi for some time now. Ever since he declared his intention to call for a referendum on a new constitution due to be held on December 15, the country has been divided down the middle with Islamists on one side and everyone else on the other. With street battles raging in the country bringing back memories of the anti-Mubarak movement, the army has been called in to protect key government installations including the presidential palace. It is interesting to note that the army chief has called for talks on national unity, especially in the backdrop of an announcement by the International Monetary Fund to delay a crucial loan to the embattled Egyptian economy.

Sports

The insecurity of footballers and football officials was once again nakedly exposed as rowdy fans injured a coach and two Bangladesh Football Federation officials at the Bangabandhu National Stadium last evening. The incident took place after the end of the Grameenphone Premier League encounter between defending champions Abahani and contenders Sheikh Jamal which ended in a goalless draw. As the Sheikh Jamal coach Joseph Afusi was making his way to the press conference room, he was struck by a piece of brick on his head. Minutes later BFF's media manager Ashikur Rahman Habibe Rabbi and BFF executive Mohibul Islam were physically assaulted inside the field by some Abahani supporters who had entered through the fences from the VIP galleries. Police finally stepped in to rescue the BFF officials.

The second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), which is scheduled to begin on January 17 and hold the players' auction on December 20, will go ahead despite the fact of non-payment to players in the league's first edition.

The Bangladesh District and Divisional Sports Organisers' Council (BDDSOC) condemned and protested the amended constitution of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ahead of the country's most affluent sports body's election.

Siddikur Rahman was close to surviving another cut as he made some ground on the second day of the Iskandar Johor Open on Friday. The 28-year old golfer, who was able to play only three holes on Thursday due to thunderstorm, finished the first round on par and then was on one-under-par in the thirteen holes of the second round.

Bangladesh men's handball team lost their second match in a row in the IHF Trophy Handball Tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday. Bangladesh lost against Yemen by 23-18 points, after trailing the first half by 14-8 points. Meanwhile, Bangladesh women's team won their match against Pakistan by 35-15 points. Bangladesg led th first half by 14-9 points. Shirin Akter, who scored 10 goals in the match, was adjudged man of the match.

A three-on-three basketball tournament will be held at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium on December 16 and 17 on the occasion of Victory Day, said a press release from Bangladesh Basketball Federation yesterday. 16 teams in the men's group and four teams in women's group will participate in the tournament.

Youngmen's Club of Fakirerpul defeated Sunrise Sporting Club 1–0 in the Popular Life Insurance Senior Division Football League at the Birshrestha Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur yesterday. Mohammad Shamim scored the only goal of the match in the 44th minute. Badda Jagoroni Sangsad take on Jatrabari Krira Chakra in today's fixture at the same venue.

BKSP set up a final clash of the Agrani Bank 23rd National Youth Hockey Championship against Rajshahi when they handed a 4-0 defeat to Dhaka in the semifinal at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

With Real Madrid trailing by 11 points, Barcelona's closest threat is from Atletico Madrid who they face on Sunday and midfielder Xavi Hernandez feels it is an opportunity to dent their title aspirations.

World football's governing body on Friday said that they were unable to check whether claims that an African footballer and not Argentina star Lionel Messi was the record holder for the most goals scored in a calendar year.

With a vow to resisting any “conspiracy” against the ongoing war crimes trial, the nation yesterday observed Martyred Intellectuals Day commemorating its bright sons, who were assassinated at the fag end of the 1971 Liberation War.

Accusing the government of being involved in the killing of Bishwajit Das, BNP Standing Committee Member MK Anwar yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir must take responsibility for the killing.

India's new External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid started discussions with different political parties and concerned states over the endorsement of the Dhaka-Delhi enclave exchange accord in their parliament, reports BBC Bangla on Thursday.

Susan Rice, the embattled US ambassador to the United Nations, withdrew herself from consideration to replace Hillary Clinton as secretary of state in the face of sustained Republican attacks over her handling of the Benghazi consulate attack.

Notwithstanding pressure from India, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik yesterday gave no indication of action being taken against 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, saying there was no credible evidence to arrest him.

Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans rallied yesterday in the freezing cold to revel in the country's rocket launch as South Korea voiced concern that its rival could follow up with a third nuclear test.

Pakistan has sent a second letter to Interpol asking it to arrest former President Pervez Musharraf, who had been declared a fugitive by an anti- terrorism court for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Breaking into Gujarati to ask people to vote for her party, Congress president Sonia Gandhi said yesterday that the Narendra Modi led government was misleading people in the name of development and making false promises.

Arts & Entertainment

Ranjit Das is considered to be one of the most influential contemporary painters. As an artist he is easily recognised and can interpret diverse dimensions with his outstanding style and techniques. The artist shared his experience, dreams and views on the Liberation War.

With screening of three films, the 12th International Short and Independent Film Festival began at the Central Public Library in Shahbagh, Dhaka on December 13. Featuring over 200 films from around 30 countries, the weeklong festival will be a platform for young filmmakers who want to see themselves in global film competitions and want to take cinema ahead.

Anurup Aich made his breakthrough in songwriting with the success of songs -- “Dil” and “Dost Dushmon” -- recorded by Ayub Bachchu and James respectively. He cemented his position as a lyricist by penning songs for several other popular singers, including Momtaz and Hasan.

Rabindra Sangeet singer Sadi Mohammad and dancer Shibli Mohammad are familiar names in our cultural arena. In 1971, collaborators of the Pakistan army killed their father brutally. The siblings shared their thoughts on the Liberation War, memories of their father and a host of other issues.

OP-ED

We are witnessing difficult and sad times. Manifest dehumanisation of politics does not cause concern. Gory murder in broad public view does not move many. Guardians of public order come up with stock replies that only fuels cynicism in a precariously polarised society. All in all there are reasons to feel worried as living in a democracy is becoming hazardous.

Kapil Sibal plays many roles, some of them quite well. But he is inimitable when he turns caustic. Sarcasm descended from his heavy eyebrows with the full force of a waterfall when he taunted the Indian middleman during his advocacy for foreign retailers in the Lok Sabha debate on FDI. Shakespeare was never so bitter about Shylock as Sibal was about the "bichauli."

Negotiations at COP 18 to agree on a mechanism to address loss and damage caused by the impacts of climate change drew immense attention of the country Parties, CSOs and policy think tanks. The continued lack of mitigation ambition and inadequate resources to implement adaptation actions are increasingly causing suffering and significant loss and damage of assets and properties all over the world, especially in the poor and vulnerable countries.

Accidents during construction due to failure of the under-construction structure are a rarity in most countries. The reason is that safety is considered as the number one priority in every construction work all over the world, be it a bridge, flyover, building or any other structure. There is no doubt that in other parts of the world it is not always that the most experienced contractor or the contractor with the most reputed track record is awarded the project, but the authority ensures that the contractor who is awarded the project has some experience in constructing the structure. This is done because a contractor who may not have prior experience in doing such type of project may not be aware of the proper techniques, which may lead to breach of the safety of the general public. This is why authorities in other parts of the world strictly ensure that no one plays with the safety of the public or tries to tamper with it because they highly value the lives of the general public.

Is Bangladesh a blatantly violent society; is it violence or the transparency of violence featured on live television for everyone to watch that causes a sense of disgust? In my opinion, it is not either, it is both.

Literature

I was never particularly fascinated by historical novels or “period fictions” as they are popularly known as in the USA, But I have been read a few of late. I just recently started “Bring Up the Bodies” by Hilary Mantel, a tale of Henry VIII, King of England, Anne Boleyn, his queen, and Thomas Cromwell, his deputy. More on the book and my struggles as I plod through it later, but let me confide to my readers that I will need a few more weeks, if not months, to finish this complicated history of 16th century England and Europe! That's partly because my knowledge of the British emperors until now has been very limited, and acquired mostly from watching movies based on Shakespeare's plays or hearsay.

November 27 marked the 59th death anniversary of America's pre-eminent playwright Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill has long been a fixture of the modern American dramatic literature curriculum in colleges and universities worldwide. His plays are considered exceptional not only in plumbing the depths of human emotion, but also in presenting a disconcerting image of American cultural life. O'Neill wrote fifty one plays. He was awarded four Pulitzers and a Nobel Prize in literature in 1936the only playwright who has achieved such a feat so far in America. As a dramatist he was highly experimental in technique, and his themes generally involved lust for power, body, land and oil; reinventing pagan depths in American complexities, racial and class problems; and his family.

Star Health

No one is happy in all occasion, but some people feel as if they can never be contented. They lead awful life with a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, decreased energy, low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite and poor concentration. These people suffers from depression that significantly destroys their quality of life — the ability to work, maintaining relationships and at worst, can lead to suicide.

There are many myths persist about what problems can arise to our health during winter season. But most of them are not true scientifically. It is important to distinguish truth from myth, in order to reduce your winter risk by understanding some common myths — and the actual truth behind them.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men. Nowadays, men harbouring prostate cancer are usually well and without any symptoms. They often have the disease detected early, when it can be cured.

Strategic Issues

The state of Israel has a basic, inescapable geopolitical dilemma: Its national security requirements outstrip its military capabilities, making it dependent on an outside power. Not only must that power have significant military capabilities but it also must have enough common ground with Israel to align its foreign policy toward the Arab world with that of Israel's. These are rather heavy requirements for such a small nation.

March 04, 2012 Putin returns to the presidencyVladimir Putin runs for a third term as president against a backdrop of mounting public opposition. Putin, who served as president for two terms before assuming the position of prime minister for four years, claims victory on March 4 with 64 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, opposition groups reiterate allegations of voting fraud and turn out en masse to demonstrate during Putin's May inauguration.

Star Books Review

The end of the year is a pretty good time to reflect on the books that have been read in the preceding months or those that are being read or those that will be read in the days and weeks to be. Close to a fortnight ago, Nazrul's Bandhonhara was launched in its English translation in Dhaka, to much acclaim. It surely goes to the credit of The Reading Circle that it undertook this rather gigantic task of going for the translation. Something, as they say, is always lost in translation. But then there are translations that hold your attention, that are indeed riveting. This translation of Bandhonhara promises to be one work that could make a difference. I am yet to read it and when I do, I know that old bug, the urge to review, will take hold of my imagination and I could actually end up doing a critique of the work.

When I first came across the book Akhtaruzzaman Elias er Chhotogolpo, I was indeed taken by surprise. It is a well written and well referenced book but more importantly, it is an attempt at a comprehensive critical approach to Elias's short stories. One would still wonder why a critical approach should surprise one in this way. That Elias's stories call for extensive critical attention from a variety of angles is an agreed-upon truth. The same can be said about a good many of his contemporaries from Hasan Azizul Haque to Mahmudul Haque. Evidently, the reason behind giving this critical attempt a special place lies elsewhere.